Base Diseño e Innovación is a bilingual academic journal established in 2014 by the School of Design at the Universidad del Desarrollo. Its mission is to highlight the transformative role of design in driving innovation processes that enhance quality of life while creating social, economic, and cultural value. The journal fosters interdisciplinary academic dialogue and connects key stakeholders from academia, industry, government, and civil organizations, along with professionals and scholars across all design fields. It aims to spotlight emerging areas of design development and promote global collaboration among researchers. By providing open, immediate, and free access to its content, the journal contributes to the democratization of knowledge and the exchange of ideas worldwide.
<span class="NormalTextRun SCXW249917783 BCX0" data-ccp-parastyle="BDI Abstract - Resumen" data-ccp-parastyle-defn="{"ObjectId":"e5a93cad-ea86-550f-8305-fe89e095303b|1","ClassId":1073872969,"Properties":[268442635,"24",469777841,"Times New Roman",469777842,"Times New Roman",469777843,"Times New Roman",469777844,"Times New Roman",469769226,"Times New Roman",469775450,"BDI Abstract - Resumen",201340122,"2",134234082,"true",134233614,"true",469778129,"BDIAbstract-Resumen",335572020,"1",335559685,"1134",335559740,"480",201341983,"0",469775498,"BDI Keywords - Palabras clave",469778324,"Normal"]}">The integration of generative artificial intelligence into design is widely celebrated for accelerating workflows and expanding ideation. This paper argues that this instrumental perspective obscures a critical epistemic shift: generative AI does not just accelerate design processes but structurally truncates already exclusionary practices. By externalizing exploratory, ambiguous, and material form-seeking into probabilistic operations, AI undermines design as a situated knowledge culture. Drawing on theories of epistemic infrastructure, hauntology, and decolonial critique, we analyze how AI systems function as engines of convergence, projecting a dominant view from a specific some-where while presenting it as a neutral standard for everywhere and everyone. Through a double foreclosure, hauntological and probabilistic, these systems favor forms of knowing already present in the dominant digital archive while rendering alternative design futures structurally inaccessible. To counter this homogenization, the paper proposes a conceptual shift. Reimagining AI models not as universalizing infrastructures but as localized carrier bags containing situated epistemologies, we critically examine how such alternatives may reproduce the asymmetries they seek to address. By centering care as a necessary condition for keeping epistemic processes open, designers and educators may protect the processual conditions under which diverse knowledges emerge.
Copyright (c) 2026 Base Diseño e Innovación https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
Editorial. Training the Researchers of the Future
*]:pointer-events-auto R6Vx5W_threadScrollVars scroll-mb-[calc(var(--scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)+var(--thread-response-height))] scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" data-turn-id="request-WEB:91b5fe79-fcda-4b75-9833-6f9d08f30000-1" data-turn-id-container="request-WEB:91b5fe79-fcda-4b75-9833-6f9d08f30000-1" data-testid="conversation-turn-4" data-scroll-anchor="false" data-turn="assistant"> Although design has historically been closely linked to project-based practice and experimentation, in recent decades it has consolidated as an academic field with its own methodologies and conceptual frameworks. However, much of the knowledge generated by undergraduate students remains invisible, confined to institutional archives and excluded from scientific dissemination circuits. In response to this situation, the special issue “Educating the Researchers of the Future” seeks to make visible research projects developed in design schools across different countries, highlighting their potential to generate relevant and situated knowledge. The articles gathered in this issue address topics such as biodesign, sustainability, pedagogical methodologies, and collaborative creativity, demonstrating that undergraduate research constitutes a key space for strengthening disciplinary development and building a collective memory for the design field. Likewise, the editorial underscores the need to strengthen methodological standards, promote institutional support structures, and integrate research more systematically into design school curricula. Educating designers capable of conducting research, critically reflecting, and producing knowledge thus emerges as a fundamental condition for addressing complex social, environmental, and technological challenges.
<span class="NormalTextRun SCXW251095727 BCX0" data-ccp-parastyle="BDI Abstract - Resumen" data-ccp-parastyle-defn="{"ObjectId":"e5a93cad-ea86-550f-8305-fe89e095303b|1","ClassId":1073872969,"Properties":[268442635,"24",335559705,"1033",469777841,"Times New Roman",469777842,"Times New Roman",469777843,"Times New Roman",469777844,"Times New Roman",469769226,"Times New Roman",469775450,"BDI Abstract - Resumen",201340122,"2",134234082,"true",134233614,"true",469778129,"BDIAbstract-Resumen",335572020,"1",335559685,"1134",335559740,"480",201341983,"0",469775498,"BDI Keywords - Palabras clave",469778324,"Normal"]}">Generative AI (GenAI) is driving transformations in creative fields, including User Experience (UX) design. To understand changing employers’ expectations and emerging design practices in this domain, job postings offer valuable data sources in design research. This study extracted job postings from LinkedIn in Singapore and analyzed a selected sample to examine how GenAI is positioned within UX roles. Using inductive thematic analysis, findings reveal latent themes representing ways GenAI is being integrated into UX practice. The discussion considers how these trends might reshape design roles, professional autonomy, and organizational dynamics, draws implications for design education, and situates the findings within critical perspectives on technology. The main contributions include early insights into the impact of GenAI on UX practice and a replicable methodological approach for analyzing job postings. These findings lay the groundwork for further comparative and longitudinal research exploring regional differences and the evolving relationship between GenAI and UX design.
Shaping Human-Driven Validation in AI-Integrated Design Education
<span class="NormalTextRun SCXW198944697 BCX0" data-ccp-parastyle="BDI Abstract - Resumen" data-ccp-parastyle-defn="{"ObjectId":"e5a93cad-ea86-550f-8305-fe89e095303b|1","ClassId":1073872969,"Properties":[268442635,"24",335559705,"1033",335551547,"1033",469777841,"Times New Roman",469777842,"Times New Roman",469777843,"Batang",469777844,"Times New Roman",469769226,"Times New Roman,Batang",469775450,"BDI Abstract - Resumen",201340122,"2",134234082,"true",134233614,"true",469778129,"BDIAbstract-Resumen",335572020,"1",335559685,"1134",335559740,"480",201341983,"0",469775498,"BDI Keywords - Palabras clave",469778324,"Normal"]}">Generative artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly used in design education to support early-stage tasks such as programming, ideation, and environmental analyses. Yet its educational value depends on how students learn to question, verify, revise, and justify AI-supported outputs rather than uncritical adoption. The present study compares two pedagogical cases: a text-to-program workflow in a Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA)-accredited interior architecture course and a performance-based mass study workflow in a National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB)-accredited architecture course. Using Linguistic Informatics and Geometric Synthesis (LIGS) as a cross-modal analytical framework, this study analyzes 1,081 structured reflection responses from 61 students, 9 AI-generated draft programs, 9 revised adjacency matrices, and environmental performance outputs from 20 design options. The findings show that AI became pedagogically meaningful when students treated generated material as provisional input for judgment. In Case A, students used a Keep, Revise, Reject pattern to evaluate AI-generated programmatic suggestions against user needs, adjacency logic, code-related concerns, and spatial feasibility. In Case B, students used environmental feedback from the simulations to compare massing alternatives and interpret the trade-offs among different criteria in design and environmental performance. These findings were understood as illustrative rather than representative. Across both cases, AI-supported learning depended on human-driven validation, trust calibration, metacognitive awareness, and decision ownership. The present study offers exploratory comparative evidence for a human-centered and a performance-based approach to AI-integrated design education.
Explorando géneros periodísticos para la indagación reflexiva de la historia del diseño
<span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7405745 BCX0" data-ccp-parastyle="BDI Abstract - Resumen" data-ccp-parastyle-defn="{"ObjectId":"e5a93cad-ea86-550f-8305-fe89e095303b|1","ClassId":1073872969,"Properties":[469777841,"Times New Roman",469777842,"Times New Roman",469777843,"Times New Roman",469777844,"Times New Roman",469769226,"Times New Roman",268442635,"24",469775450,"BDI Abstract - Resumen",201340122,"2",134234082,"true",134233614,"true",469778129,"BDIAbstract-Resumen",335572020,"1",335559705,"1033",335551547,"2057",335559685,"1134",469775498,"BDI Keywords - Palabras clave",469778324,"Normal"]}">Con la llegada de la generación Z a las aulas universitarias, los docentes se han visto enfrentados a la tarea de reforzar aquellas habilidades académicas que le resultan particularmente desafiantes a este grupo social, como la producción de textos extensos y la capacidad de reflexión autónoma. Particularmente, en las escuelas de diseño, donde los estudiantes manifiestan una mayor proximidad hacia las clases prácticas, el desarrollo de estrategias para inculcar dichas aptitudes se vuelve urgente para el futuro del área. Este artículo presenta la exploración de géneros del periodismo de opinión, en modo oral y escrito, como estímulo a la indagación con perspectiva crítica de estudiantes de diseño. Con la hipótesis de que los alumnos sienten cercanía hacia los formatos propios de los medios masivos, se les pidió crear columnas y podcasts para aprender y reflexionar sobre la historia del diseño. Así, se logró la producción sistemática de ejercicios argumentativos, ejercitando la escritura formal, el desarrollo de voz propia y la reflexión tanto individual como grupal sobre el rol de la disciplina en las sociedades de ayer y hoy.
Diseño de aislación termoacústica con bioplásticos cítricos en estación intermodal
This research addresses environmental pollution related to construction and the lack of effective thermoacoustic insulation in high-traffic urban spaces, using the La Cisterna Intermodal Station in Santiago de Chile as a case study. It develops and validates a bio-based composite material made from orange peels and natural binders as a sustainable alternative to expanded polystyrene (EPS). The methodology focuses on experimental formulation, specimen fabrication, standardized physical, thermal, and acoustic tests, and the design of a modular prototype for platform application. Results demonstrate insulation properties comparable to or exceeding those of EPS, with added benefits in biodegradability, cost-efficiency, and productive viability using agro-industrial waste. These findings support the proposal of this material as a viable solution for small and medium-sized enterprises, fostering environmental linkage and enabling its presentation as a public policy initiative eligible for sustainability and entrepreneurship funding. Originating from a master’s research project, this work contributes technically and environmentally to the construction sector, aligning with Sustainable Development Goals 9, 12, and 13.
Fontibón, a district of Bogotá, accounts for 15% of the city's fixed sources of pollution, causing respiratory, cardiac, and mental health problems among its population. This problem is related to rapid urbanization and heavy truck traffic on Calle 13, which has drastically reduced green spaces and damaged the Meandro del Say wetland. In response to this situation, the project proposes an interdisciplinary methodology that combines design, biology, and community participation through territory-sensitive research, stratigraphic analysis, and co-creation. As a result, BIO-VASC has been developed, a support system inspired by biodesign and biomimicry that seeks to activate a symbiotic relationship between the community and the wetland, promoting collective appropriation and strengthening territorial resilience. This research demonstrates that biodesign, in order to be sustainable, must be constructed from a dialogue situated within the spatial practices of the context.
Bio-Agglomerated Panels from Forest Waste
This research describes the process of designing, developing, and validating bio-agglomerated panels made from capsules of Eucalyptus globulus Labill, an invasive species with a high environmental impact in Chile. The study is primarily positioned as applied research aimed at the development and technical validation of a biomaterial, carried out in the context of a thesis project guided over the course of an academic year and developed through research and close collaboration between students and teachers. Its purpose was to explore the technical and sustainable feasibility of transforming forest waste into a functional material, using design methodologies focused on material experimentation and the circular economy. The research was structured according to the Material Driven Design (MDD) and Territory-Based Biomaterials (BBT) approaches, integrating stages of territorial diagnosis, characterization of the raw material, formulation and manufacture of mixtures, application of physical-mechanical tests, and analysis of results. The panels obtained reached an average density of 0.82 g/cm³, water absorption of 6.3%, and tensile strength of 11.4 MPa, demonstrating structural stability and low permeability. The technical and material results obtained place the bio-agglomerate within the range of low-density lignocellulosic materials with potential applications in interior design. Beyond the technical results, the work recognizes the educational context in which the research was developed, without this dimension constituting an object of study in itself, demonstrating that undergraduate academic practice can contribute to the generation of applied knowledge in sustainable design.
Development of a Repairable Dermal Layer for Venipuncture Phantoms
This article presents the results of an interdisciplinary project between the School of Design and the School of Nursing, both at the University of Chile. The project seeks to develop a biodegradable and repairable skin-like material for use in venipuncture phantoms. To this end, a material similar to human skin was developed with a hydrocolloid matrix rich in calcium carbonate. Four formulations were defined with the selected hydrocolloid binder, varying the percentages of each component and organic load. To characterize the materials, their density and moisture content were evaluated, as well as their repairability. Subsequently, the perception of users (nursing students and teachers) was tested. After testing the material, it was used in the phantom developed for the University of Chile School of Nursing, thus verifying the user's perception of the complete phantom. This testing was carried out in a real teaching experience and consisted of venipuncture simulation rotations. The results of the verification showed that the developed dermal layer is even more similar to human skin than the current practice with rubber silicone, in addition to being repairable by dilution with water and biodegradable.
Today's challenges cannot be solved by a single discipline; transdisciplinary collaboration is essential to address complex issues from integrated approaches. This requires cooperation among disciplines and the incorporation of non-academic actors, transcending the traditional boundaries of knowledge. At the Faculty of Architecture and Design of the University of Los Andes, the area of biodesign has established itself as a space where students and professors from different areas face challenges related to the construction and validation of knowledge, student conditions, and the methodological dynamics of classes. This article analyzes transdisciplinary collaborations aimed at innovation based on a case study of three biodesign courses. Through interviews, observations, and a review of teaching materials, the main tensions and lessons learned from working together were identified. The research answers the question: how can the dynamics of collaboration between teachers and students be strengthened so that the diversity of perspectives contributes to genuine cooperation? As a result, a set of analytical and diagnostic tools was developed that allows teachers to recognize progress, stagnation, and opportunities for improvement in their practices in order to adjust their methodologies and continue promoting collaboration and transdisciplinary learning.
Diseño sistémico como agente epistémico:
<span class="NormalTextRun SCXW141855638 BCX0" data-ccp-parastyle="BDI Keywords - Palabras clave" data-ccp-parastyle-defn="{"ObjectId":"95e236ef-2e8e-5386-a5d0-891fd28df8e9|1","ClassId":1073872969,"Properties":[268442635,"24",335559705,"1033",469777841,"Times New Roman",469777842,"Times New Roman",469777843,"Times New Roman",469777844,"Times New Roman",469769226,"Times New Roman",469775450,"BDI Keywords - Palabras clave",201340122,"2",134234082,"true",134233614,"true",469778129,"BDIKeywords-Palabrasclave",335572020,"1",134224901,"true",335559685,"1134",335559740,"480",201341983,"0",469775498,"BDI First Paragraph - Primer párrafo",469778324,"Normal"]}">El presente artículo analiza cómo el diseño sistémico puede integrarse a una investigación científica aplicada para producir conocimiento situado y accionable, más allá de su función tradicional de materialización o comunicación de resultados. El caso de estudio corresponde a una tesis de pregrado desarrollada en el Observatorio Ambiental de Proyectos Mineros (OA), proyecto financiado por la Agencia Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo mediante FONDEF IDeA (ID20I10084) y su posterior etapa de investigación tecnológica (IT23I0066). La tesis tuvo como resultado un servicio de acompañamiento orientado a facilitar el acceso, la comprensión y el uso de información ambiental pública. A partir de una lectura posterior desde la investigación a través del diseño (RtD), se examina cómo la articulación entre el diseño orientado a sistemas (SOD) y el Triple Diamante del Laboratorio de Innovación Pública UC estructuró un proceso iterativo de observación, modelamiento, codiseño, prototipado y validación. Metodológicamente, se emplearon gigamaps, customer journey maps, service blueprints y prototipos reformulados desde una lógica sistémica para representar redes de actores, flujos de información, dependencias institucionales, temporalidades y condiciones de acceso y uso. Los resultados combinan un servicio y puntos de contacto concretos con hallazgos estructurales sobre asimetrías de capacidad, fragmentación de fuentes, quiebres de trazabilidad y descalces temporales en los procesos de participación. El caso sugiere que los artefactos de diseño pueden producir evidencia de proceso y contribuir a formular y contrastar hipótesis situadas.
This study investigates how undergraduate design studios function as research environments that cultivate inquiry-based learning and knowledge production through making. A key problem addressed is the disparity between recognized research in STEM fields and the undervaluation of research-through-design within interior architecture education. The central research question asks: How does the design studio facilitate research as a form of inquiry in undergraduate interior architecture curricula? Participants included senior-level students engaged in capstone studio projects emphasizing iterative design prototyping and contextual analysis as applied to an intensive year-long project. Results indicate that students demonstrate higher levels of critical inquiry and self-directed research when engaged in approaches of iterative making and reflection. This allowed for the transformation of spatial problems into evidence-based design propositions that still employed creativity and feasibility. These findings suggest that undergraduate design education can indeed be more widely recognized as a legitimate site of scholarly research.
Creative and Collaborative Thinking Through Hands-On Manual Paper Recycling in Design Education
The advancement of environmental challenges and the need for creative solutions make education a fundamental element in the development of innovative minds and creative thinkers capable of analysing and proposing solutions to complex problems. This article explores manual paper recycling as an initiative that combines environmental awareness and artisanal processes as tools for the development of creative skills and adaptive thinking. Through the Action Research methodology and a case study in three collaborative workshops, we seek to understand how practical experimentation with recycled paper fosters innovation and adaptive and flexible thinking in different training contexts. During the activities, participants experiment with pulp manipulation techniques, moulds and pigments, achieving close contact with traditional materials and techniques. The results indicate that manual experimentation generated creative and unique solutions, such as the reinterpretation of colonial icons and the exploration of textures. Preliminary findings show that workshops are spaces with great potential for developing cognitive flexibility and fostering collaboration. These are fundamental aspects for training professionals and citizens who are adaptable to contemporary challenges, demonstrating the pedagogical impact of this initiative.
Undergraduate education and cultural transfer
This article analyzes the role of undergraduate education in legitimizing design research and its social impact, based on a Final Degree Project in graphic design (FDP). The case studied is the project Marcas con fundamento (Brands with substance), defended at the University of La Laguna in 2023, which focuses on the historiographical study of Canarian graphic brands. Methodologically, the project adopted a mixed approach—historiographical, qualitative, and project-based—articulated as research through design and organized into five phases, with a sample of 30 graphic brands. The results enabled the identification of patterns of visual evolution, the creation of a graphic archive, and the development of various cultural transfer products, including a publication, a website, an educational game, and a public exhibition. The conclusions show that the FDP can operate as an applied research laboratory, integrating theory and practice, strengthening territorial identity, and democratizing visual culture. Based on this case, a replicable model of university-society transfer applicable to educational and cultural contexts is proposed.
Bacterial Bioluminescence and Biophilic Design
Disconnection from nature is one of the main challenges of contemporary urban living, with negative effects on emotional and cognitive health. This study, carried out as part of a degree project in Design at the University of Chile, explored bacterial bioluminescence as an innovative resource in biophilic design, aimed at promoting emotional well-being in urban contexts. An experimental prototype was developed based on the ethical cultivation of Photobacterium, designed according to principles of biomimicry and biocollaboration. Validation was carried out through non-participant observation, semi-structured interviews, and emotional assessment surveys, complemented by electroencephalography (Emotiv Epoc EEG) and the PrEmo scale. The results showed that interaction with bioluminescence generated responses of awe, fascination, and calm, linked to processes of restorative contemplation, along with a sustained increase in levels of attention and relaxation. The integration of bacterial bioluminescence into the design not only offers an aesthetic and sustainable alternative, but also a sensory medium capable of mediating emotional and symbolic links with nature. This work also validates project-based research as a legitimate way to generate new knowledge that can be published under current academic standards.
Editorial. Design and Longevity: New Perspectives, and Challenges
Longevity is becoming a defining characteristic of contemporary societies, reshaping how the discipline of design creates products, services, and environments. As global life expectancy increases, there is a growing need to move beyond traditional age-focused approaches and embrace longevity as an opportunity for innovation. This special issue explores the intersections of design, longevity, and sustainability, examining how human-centered and systemic design approaches can enhance well-being, autonomy, and social participation. It shows the role of design in creating adaptable solutions that support individuals across different life stages, foster intergenerational connections, and promote sustainable practices. This issue aims to inspire new meaningful perspectives on how design can contribute to a more inclusive and resilient future, rethinking longevity as a dynamic and experience-rich phase of life.
Copyright (c) 2025 Base Diseño e Innovación https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
The fashion industry exemplifies unsustainable production and consumption, generating severe ecological damage and perpetuating exploitative labor practices. Recent global analyses estimate that the sector contributes nearly 10% of global carbon emissions, disposes of a truckload of textiles every second through landfilling or incineration, and recycles less than 1% of discarded garments into new clothing. These alarming figures underscore the urgency of rethinking how future designers and researchers are educated. Higher education institutions, particularly design schools, are positioned to prepare graduates who can navigate the intertwined challenges of sustainability and social justice. This paper proposes that undergraduate research in sustainable fashion, when structured as a community-centered practice, provides a powerful pedagogy for cultivating socially responsible design researchers. Drawing on sustainable fashion studies, participatory and co-design traditions, Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS), and design justice, it develops a five-phase framework—Engagement, Exploration, Empathy, Experimentation, and Evolution. Each phase specifies inputs, competencies, outputs, and measurable social outcomes, moving beyond abstract ideals to actionable pedagogy. A mini-case and a 14-week semester map demonstrate classroom integration. By positioning communities as equal partners, the framework challenges extractive models of design research while aligning with global sustainability agendas, including the SDGs and circular economy.
Editorial: Disruptive sustainability: society, innovation and futures
Copyright (c) 2024 Base Diseño e Innovación https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
Innovative Longevity Design through Boundary Object Integration
<span class="NormalTextRun SCXW77372038 BCX0" data-ccp-parastyle="Abstract" data-ccp-parastyle-defn="{"ObjectId":"db3a1198-8739-4d83-ad29-2785808409fd|154","ClassId":1073872969,"Properties":[268442635,"22",335559740,"360",201341983,"0",469777841,"Times New Roman",469777842,"Times New Roman",469777843,"SimSun",469777844,"Times New Roman",469769226,"Times New Roman,SimSun",469775450,"Abstract",201340122,"2",134234082,"true",134233614,"true",469778129,"Abstract",335572020,"1",335559685,"720",335559737,"567",335559739,"300",335559738,"360",134233279,"true",469775498,"Keywords",469778324,"Normal"]}">This descriptive study explores how Longevity Planning Blocks (LPBs) can serve as boundary objects to facilitate conversations and identify user needs in service design, thereby advancing the understanding of Design for Longevity (D4L) within financial planning, service innovation, and system design. Using constructivist grounded theory, we analyzed 69 one-hour in-person D4L service experiments with participants in Boston, USA, categorized by age: adulthood (25-54), pre-retirement (55-64), and post-retirement (65-84), with controls for gender balance, annual household income, savings, and investable assets. We identified six key considerations to improve the design of LPBs—adaptability, tangibility, modularity, learnability, unpredictability, and scalability—based on six emerging themes as core codes and 11 codes, which include understanding individuals’ needs, fostering point-to-talk behavior, presenting dynamic life stages dependent on individual preferences, incorporating unique lived experiences, prioritizing preparation over planning, and positioning a longevity coach as a continuous touchpoint for financial wellbeing, acting as a financial therapist. These insights highlight the value and challenges of using tangible artifacts as boundary objects to enhance D4L design and development.
Copyright (c) 2025 Base Diseño e Innovación https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
From industry through policymaking to academia, much prevailing sustainability discourse focusses on transitioning to a so-called ‘Net Zero future’. Central to this vision is mitigation of human-driven climate change through the decarbonisation of industrial society, principally via increased innovation and adoption of emergent technologies. This paper argues Design Research must pivot from these reductive, solutionist narratives, and develop a disruptive yet inclusive approach towards designing for Net Zero. In response to the complexity of climate change, this paper proposes a novel conceptual frame that helps designer-practitioners to challenge the unsustainable technocentric status quo. Built upon a confluence of Speculative, Participatory and More-than-Human-Centred methods, the paper outlines how this approach can stimulate close collaboration between designers and stakeholder networks. The paper asserts that, through this scaffold, designer-practitioners can reimagine responsible technological Net Zero futures which are inherently More-than-Human, that is, sustainable and equitable for our planet’s human and non-human stakeholders alike.
This article examines the historical influence of the design discipline on population well-being, addressing emerging challenges associated with global demographic ageing from various paradigms in recent decades and proposing inclusive criteria in changing scenarios. Longevity, or the length of time someone lives, is currently a socio-politically significant issue. Advances in knowledge, health technology, and improvements in quality of life have contributed to the increase in life expectancy. This exploratory, descriptive historiographic study aims to define the concepts involved by referencing specific case studies. In the context of design, global ageing necessitates a revaluation of our preconceived notions of 'old age' and the adoption of functional inclusion criteria, ranging from formal and spatial to technological and digital. This recognises the growing number of users and guarantees the future needs of an ageing population that wishes to maintain its self-sufficiency and independence and continue to contribute to the workforce for many years to come.
Tackling reflexivity in human-centred design research to benefit user needs and sensitivities
<span class="NormalTextRun SCXW252205436 BCX0" data-ccp-parastyle="Abstract" data-ccp-parastyle-defn="{"ObjectId":"fe0017e7-5150-5d7c-ac64-5f509ec11579|1","ClassId":1073872969,"Properties":[469777841,"Times New Roman",469777842,"Times New Roman",469777843,"Times New Roman",469777844,"Times New Roman",469769226,"Times New Roman",335559705,"2057",201342446,"1",201342447,"5",201342448,"1",201342449,"1",201341986,"1",268442635,"22",469775450,"Abstract",201340122,"2",134234082,"true",134233614,"true",469778129,"Abstract",335572020,"1",335551547,"2057",335559685,"720",335559737,"567",335559740,"360",201341983,"0",335559739,"300",335559738,"360",134233279,"true",469775498,"Keywords",469778324,"Normal"]}">Longevity research highlights complexities of assessing the elderly’s future needs and impact of design solutions. Especially, the potential for (self-) transformation within human relations or interactions through design work (e.g., through technology) highlights the importance of design (researchers) being more aware of their design decisions and research impact and finding ways to discuss their application of reflexivity; standards of practices still lacking in research communities. This paper presents a ‘work-in-progress’ reflexivity-method for conducting front-end user experience research with participants characterised by highly diverse user needs and sensitivities. During a PhD project, this method evolved from grounded research and four case studies with 120 mixed-gender pre-schoolers, 2.5—6-years, at a kindergarten. The goal was to improve a researcher’s reflexivity when developing activities, tools, and environments by prioritising context-based discovery of relational, emotional, and social vulnerabilities impacting user well-being. Video and audio materials indicate that a researcher’s reflexivity concerning sensitivities and paradigm awareness are beneficial design strategies to encourage motivation, expression skills, and mastery. This paper offers a dialogue tool for practising precise reflexivity. Its innovative framework may spark discussions on how child-centred methods can inform reflexive standards, practices, and the impact of designing for vulnerable adult groups, such as the elderly.
What do you mean? Exploring Interdisciplinary Frictions when Designing for Longevity
With a projected global population of 2.1 billion individuals aged 60 and older by 2050, there is an imperative to explore the implications of living longer and how to design solutions that support individuals’ well-being and promote independence. In this context, interdisciplinary collaborations, by bringing together different forms of expertise, can provide creative and effective solutions. However, the complexities of working in synergy with others are rarely discussed. Drawing from our experiences as early academic researchers, we delve into the nuances of interdisciplinary design research for an ageing population. Through autoethnographic dialogues between the authors and semi-structured interviews with professionals from various disciplines, we uncover and discuss frictions inherent in interdisciplinary collaborations. Our findings reveal tensions surrounding data interpretation, ontological and epistemological beliefs, evaluation of project outcomes, and ethical considerations. We propose an initial framework to navigate these frictions constructively, fostering dialogue and understanding among team members. By prioritising lived experiences and reflexivity, our work contributes practical insights for interdisciplinary collaboration in designing for longevity, offering a lens into the complexities and opportunities of navigating disciplinary boundaries.
Editorial: A New Green Bauhaus from the Global South
Older People’s Experience of Autonomy with Durable Products
This article discusses the importance of promoting autonomy in the design of products for older individuals. The aim was to better understand the autonomy experience of older people with durable products. This research utilizes a qualitative approach to study the experience in-depth and employed six instruments, including interviews, questionnaires, and a UX curve method, interaction qualities, the psychological needs it fulfills, and the emotions elicited through the product to investigate why and how a product, owned by the participant, promotes autonomy. Fourteen Mexican women over the age of 60, without cognitive impairment, Spanish-speaking and not affiliated with the design discipline, took part in the study. The results provide a detailed description of the characteristics of products that promote autonomy, the interaction properties involved, and the elements that structure the autonomy experience. The study identified an alignment between intrinsic motivations and the activity carried out with the product, ease of interaction, and excellent product performance as components of the experience. The experience of autonomy is pleasant and enhances well-being.
<span class="NormalTextRun SCXW208851795 BCX0" data-ccp-charstyle="None" data-ccp-charstyle-defn="{"ObjectId":"71d541c2-f7d5-467b-9d41-44218304d872|31","ClassId":1073872969,"Properties":[469775450,"None",201340122,"1",134233614,"true",469778129,"None",335572020,"1",469777841,"Times New Roman",469777842,"Times New Roman",469777843,"Arial Unicode MS",469777844,"Times New Roman",469769226,"Times New Roman,Arial Unicode MS"]}">Starting from the reckless exploitation of soil as a resource at humans’ disposal, this research highlights the role of the textile industry in regard to the soil and voices the urgency to explore practices of restoration through a regenerative material approach. From circular economy to regenerative agriculture, design has the power and responsibility to exercise its impactful role in influencing a general mindshift within the industry and to sketch out ‘preferable scenarios,’ both through speculative and practical actions. This paper surveys the literature on practices and methodologies that concern the soil ecosystem. Drawing the lines between soil-agriculture-textile, the investigation proposes to look at the soil-origin of textiles and to practice natural circular ways through clothes-composting. Ultimately it is a reflection on the potential of a soil-centric textile industry in which waste does not exist as such but it rather turns into new ‘food’ pursuing its natural cyclicity and regenerating the ecosystem. <span class="EOP SCXW208851795 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559685":720,"335559737":567,"335559738":360,"335559739":300,"335559740":360,"335572071":0,"335572072":0,"335572073":0,"335572075":0,"335572076":0,"335572077":0,"335572079":0,"335572080":0,"335572081":0,"335572083":0,"335572084":0,"335572085":0,"335572087":0,"335572088":0,"335572089":0,"469789798":"nil","469789802":"nil","469789806":"nil","469789810":"nil","469789814":"nil"}">
Sustainable design: from the ethics of consumption to the ethics of production
The controversial concept of ethical consumption has been profusely associated with design practice in recent decades. However, on many occasions, its implementation is assumed as beneficial in the definition of all kinds of design projects without considering the nuances and/or considerations regarding its social, cultural, and productive implications. This paper seeks to help remedy the uncritical adoption of ethical consumption in design practice. To achieve this objective, we performed a multidisciplinary bibliographic discussion that exposes valuable background information to generate an argued position regarding ethical consumption and its link with the logic of sustainable design. The results derived from the analysis of the existing literature suggest an early positioning of the designer's participation in the design process. Finally, some possible ways of disciplinary confrontation of the environmental crisis that could generate higher levels of innovation are proposed.
Croí: A Process for Core and Responsible Graphic Communication Design Education
Research has shown that addressing personal values and conviction is crucial for long-lasting Education for Sustainable Development. However, there is a shortage of theory and evidence-based value-focused processes in Graphic Communication Design Education literature. This article presents a novel personal value thinking and doing process called Croí (pronounced Cree) that can be used as a precursor to Education for Sustainable Development in Graphic Communication Design Education. Croí aims to stimulate sustainable transitions by disrupting behaviour development. Over five years, five rounds of Action Research were conducted with third-level educators and students to explore how Croí could facilitate value (or core) design, with the broad aim to encourage sustainable Graphic Communication Design. The initial Croí prototype developed over Cycles One and Two is briefly summarised, with focus on Cycles Three, Four, and Five, where Croí was further developed and evaluated. Data collection included researcher field notes, semi-structured interviews, and written reflections, analysed through Thematic Analysis. Key discussion points include fundamental process elements, Croí's impact on core thinking and doing and responsible thinking and doing, and its potential to facilitate behaviour development. The research concludes that Croí promotes core and responsible thinking and core doing, increasing the likelihood of responsible doing. It offers educators an innovative way to facilitate plural, practical, and core development for graphic communication design students, potentially influencing change in the profession. Croí is not a panacea for the complex issue of Sustainable Development, but it provides a novel and meaningful foundation for disrupting behaviour.
Management of cooperation networks for sustainability
Sustainability requires the sharing of knowledge, resources and capacities. Cooperation Networks (CN) are essential to promote strategies and approaches that respond to socio-environmental challenges in various territories, particularly in emerging countries. However, CN management is complex, and literature on this matter is scarce. This article identifies and explores CN management practices for sustainability. We studied the Latin American Network for Frugal Innovation (RELIF), which promotes Frugal Innovation as a design approach to sustainability in Latin America. A qualitative methodology was used based on interviews with the Coordinating Committee and thematic analysis. Several effective practices were detected, such as active collaboration, strategic alignment and efficient resource management. We also identified challenges regarding a sound strategic plan and defining an appropriate legal form. These findings are valuable lessons for similar initiatives and provide opportunities to strengthen CN management practices. Future research is recommended to explore appropriate legal structures and develop CN strategies to disseminate sustainability approaches.
Struggling for Design for the Pluriverse in the Global North
<span class="NormalTextRun SCXW251540476 BCX0" data-ccp-parastyle="Keywords" data-ccp-parastyle-defn="{"ObjectId":"de54ea9d-1da8-4a28-b7a0-97106fe4560a|171","ClassId":1073872969,"Properties":[268442635,"22",335559740,"360",201341983,"0",469777841,"Times New Roman",469777842,"Times New Roman",469777843,"Times New Roman",469777844,"Times New Roman",469769226,"Times New Roman",335559704,"1025",335559705,"2057",335551547,"2057",469775450,"Keywords",201340122,"2",134234082,"true",134233614,"true",469778129,"Keywords",335572020,"1",335559685,"720",335559737,"567",335559739,"240",335559738,"240",469775498,"Paragraph",469778324,"Normal"]}">This article explores the difficulties of conducting pluriversal design in the Global North. The point of departure is Arturo Escobar’s discussion on design for the pluriverse, which is a critique of modernity and unsustainability. The analysis centers on a project to develop a game to uncover the unsustainability integral to modern commerce, in the form of value chains of products produced in the Global South and consumed in the Global North. The researchers follow and document their experience with the development of the game aimed at sensitizing school students in the Global North to the injustices, resource overuse, and violence integral to value chains. The analysis describes how the intention to apply pluriversal design principles risks being betrayed by the same designers committed to them, because of their embeddedness in modernity. The authors propose two concrete strategies: first, recognizing that activating pluriversal principles will create discomfort in the designers and the design process; second, developing a vision to activate pluriversal principles.